Woodlands Primary School head teacher taking new post at Waltham Leas Primary Academy

WELCOME: New head teacher at Waltham Leas Primary School, Robert Beel, left, is welcomed by chairman of governors Ivor Appleton, as retiring head teacher Liam Doran, says goodbye to the school. Picture: Jon Corken

TAKING the reins at a new school will be a bitter-sweet challenge for this top teacher.

Robert Beel, the head teacher of Woodlands Primary School, on Grimsby's Nunsthorpe estate, will be taking up a new post as head of the Waltham Leas Primary Academy from September 1, when current head Liam Doran steps down.

However, he said his 15 years at Woodlands – which is part of the same seven-school Learning Alliance as Waltham Leas – had been some of the happiest in his career and he will be sorry to say goodbye.

"I am as sorry to be leaving there as I am excited to be coming here," he said.

"It is one of the best places to be and I have met some fantastic people, families and children.

"I am really honoured to have been part of that community, but it was just time for a new challenge."

Mr Beel, who previously taught at Great Cotes Primary for seven years, said his biggest challenge would be stepping into the shoes of Mr Doran, who he described as having an "impressive reputation".

He added: "I have already spent sometime in school and I've worked with Liam through the school alliance, so I know it reasonably well.

"I have also been getting to know the fantastic staff and children.

"The children are starting to recognise me now and say hello to me by name, which is nice.

"As soon as you come through the door, you know that it's a really nice place to be and I am looking forward to being a part of that.

"You have always got to be moving forward and trying new things."

Mr Beel and chairman of governors Ivor Appleton, also said they were looking forward to working together to develop the relationship between the schools within the alliance, swapping ideas and techniques and adapting them to suit the needs of each school.

He said: "There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

"The alliance means we can all remain autonomous, but work closely together to share skills and ideas to get the best education for the children – after all, that's what we're here for.

"That's the strength of it – you're not on your own.

"With all the changes in education at the moment, it is a really good time to be here and, in terms of what we can do, the sky's the limit."